Justin B. Terry-Smith

Justin's HIV Journal

When I found out I was HIV positive I wasn't really thinking about if I was going to ever get married. But just my luck, which was good, I did get married to the most beautiful man in my life, Dr. Philip B Terry-Smith. This past summer Phil and I were approached by students at University of Maryland to take part in a documentary. The documentary was about marriage and the different kinds of marriages and how they work. The documentary profiles four couples: a heterosexual man and bisexual woman, an older couple, a couple who met through Internet dating, and a gay couple (us). The documentary shows that there are differences and similarities, but also shows that there shouldn't be a "cookie cutter" of what marriage should be.

Another World AIDS Day has come and gone. This year was a little different for me. I was actually asked to speak at George Mason University about HIV/AIDS. I was soooo scared about speaking in front of them. I must admit it had been a long time since I had spoken at a college. So before I made my way to George Mason University I had many thoughts going through my head. I had hoped the students would like me and most of all listen to me. So in the car on the way there I had made notes; my husband said, "Don't worry about it, you're a natural. You will do fine." Well I'm a skeptic on some things so I didn't believe it.

Leo Alexander is one of the candidates for the Washington, D.C. Mayoral Election. A couple of weeks ago on August 11th Alexander made a statement at a Forum that he will push for HIV testing at the DMV [Department of Motor Vehicles]. If most of you are not familiar with it, some other people call it the MVA [Motor Vehicle Administration]. You know that place where you pick up your License.

There are a lot of things we as HIV positive people have to look out for. But one of our main enemies is stress. You can take all the medication you want, eat all the good food that nourishes your body, and have all the protected sex anyone can have, but when you're stressed out all of it goes out the window.

In 2006, on Memorial Day weekend, I found out that I was HIV positive. I didn't think I'd ever be loved or love someone else at all. I also felt bad because I couldn't have children and my parents would be so disappointed in me. Being in a relationship was the furthest thing from my mind.

People who take certain HIV medications often get high cholesterol as a side effect of the drugs. Recently my doctor told me that I have high cholesterol. But is it a result of my drug regimen? I had been taking Reyataz, Norvir and Truvada, all of which have high cholesterol as a possible adverse effect. It could be my genes or my lifestyle -- or even a combination. I may never really know. But since high cholesterol increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke, it's time for me to make some changes.

This week's video will also appear on my YouTube channel, "Mister J's Living In Leather," where I post videos meant to educate people about the leather community. Its purpose is also to show that the leather community is not all about sex, but putting service before self.

Many people had very strong reactions to the first post I wrote about Tiger Woods, on Dec. 23, 2009. The responses people shared drove me to make another go at this blog entry, so readers and viewers would better understand what I was getting at in the first place.

When HIV/AIDS first came out in the public eye, a lot of people of color automatically stigmatized HIV as a gay white disease. So they went around with this notion in their heads that they couldn't possibly contract HIV.

Justin B. Terry-Smith, M.P.H., may be one of the most public African Americans living with HIV: He has his own website, and he's even on YouTube. He is a noted HIV and gay civil rights activist and the creator of "Justin's HIV Journal," a popular blog in which he shares his trials and tribulations of living with HIV. A U.S. Air Force veteran, Justin resides in Laurel, Maryland, with his husband, Dr. Philip Terry-Smith, and their son, Lundyn. Presently, Justin is working toward earning his doctorate in public health. He welcomes your questions.
(Photo credit: Don Harris)

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